NEW YORK — At Twitter’s first Digital Content NewFronts presentation, one thing was particularly apparent: live sports programming and video content is a driving focus for the social platform.
Twitter announced a half dozen live streaming sports partnerships with the NFL, MLB, PGA TOUR and WNBA, among others.
Arguably the most noteworthy, though, was Twitter announcing a 24/7 original sports experience called Stadium, which is part of the new multi-sports network from 120 Sports, Silver Chalice and Sinclair Broadcast Group. The unified network will be available as a digital offering in addition to an OTA, which will be the same 24/7 linear network appearing on Twitter. Stadium will launch in the coming months and feature live collegiate sporting events, highlights, classic games and daily live studio programming.
Derek Jeter’s media company The Players’ Tribune will also have an exclusive live show on Twitter. #Verified will include athletes like Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Karl-Anthony Towns and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green answering questions from fans and giving their reactions to what’s occurring on and off the field or court.
“I love working with The Players’ Tribune because they’re just so creative at what they do to help us athletes especially myself talk about topics and discussions that are really important to me,” said Towns at the Twitter NewFronts presentation.
“With them, I’m able to have a message that is unfiltered, unbiased, no agenda a part of it.”
Added The Players’ Tribune President Jaymee Messler in a statement: “The Players’ Tribune and Twitter share similar sensibilities and goals in giving newsmakers a platform to connect and engage directly with an audience. #Verified is a fresh take on the dated format of the traditional press conference, giving fans a place to connect directly with some of their favorite players in an immediate and organic way, and getting the answers to the questions they really want.”
While NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discussed the power of Twitter on stage, he shed some light onto the WNBA’s new three-year live streaming partnership with Twitter, becoming the first professional women’s sports aired on the platform. The programming kicks off in two weeks and includes 20 regular season games for each of the next three campaigns.
Additionally, despite losing its Thursday Night Football live streaming deal to Amazon for the 2017 season, Twitter extended its Amplify relationship with the NFL. Later this Fall, the collaboration will include live pregame video and video on-demand highlights during marquee primetime matchups, including Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football. In addition, the NFL will have daily programming Sunday to Thursday exclusively on Twitter featuring NFL Network talent.
The sports announcements kept coming as Major League Baseball Advanced Media will now supplement its weekly live streamed MLB games on Twitter with a three-hour program exclusively produced for the platform. The whip-around show will feature live look-ins to MLB games along with highlights and real-time commentary around what’s trending online.
Additionally, on top of its pre-existing partnership with Twitter, which includes 70-plus hours of live content for the 2016-17 season, the PGA TOUR will live stream (Twitter/Periscope) 360-degree video of the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass during THE PLAYERS Championship from May 11-14.
Finally, Twitter highlighted some of its esports programming for 2017, which includes 1,500 hours of live streamed content.
